Miniature implantable device and methods

Abstract

An implantation system includes a stylet comprising an elongate member and a first mating feature at a distal end of the elongate member, as well as an implantable device configured to receive a wireless signal and to generate one or more electrical pulses from the wireless signal for exciting a tissue. The implantable device includes a body defining a longitudinal axis of the implantable device, multiple electrodes distributed along the body and configured to deliver the one or more electrical pulses, and a second mating feature disposed in-line with the longitudinal axis of the implantable device and defining a proximal end of the implantable device. The second mating feature is configured to mate with the first mating feature such that the stylet and the implantable device can be delivered percutaneously to a patient together as an assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An implantation system, comprising:
 a stylet comprising an elongate member and a first mating feature at a distal end of the elongate member; and 
 an implantable device configured to receive a wireless signal and to generate one or more electrical pulses from the wireless signal for exciting a tissue, the implantable device comprising:
 a body defining a longitudinal axis of the implantable device, 
 a plurality of electrodes distributed along the body and configured to deliver the one or more electrical pulses, 
 a round tip coupled to the body and defining a distal end of the implantable device such that no portion of the implantable device extends beyond the round tip, and 
 a second mating feature disposed in-line with the longitudinal axis of the implantable device and defining a proximal end of the implantable device, the second mating feature configured to mate with the first mating feature such that the stylet and the implantable device can be delivered percutaneously to a patient together as an assembly. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein the stylet is a placement stylet. 
     
     
       3. The implantation system of  claim 2 , wherein the first mating feature of the stylet includes a protrusion and the second mating feature of the implantable device includes an indentation, the protrusion being configured to mate with the indentation. 
     
     
       4. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein the stylet is a suction stylet that comprises a shaft, an inner plunger within the shaft, a suction tip, and an air chamber between the suction tip and a distal end of the inner plunger. 
     
     
       5. The implantation system of  claim 4 , wherein the stylet is configured to mate with the implantable device when a sliding motion of the inner plunger in the shaft creates a negative pressure in the air chamber to draw the second mating feature of the implantable device onto the suction tip. 
     
     
       6. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the implantable device further comprises an anchoring feature for securing the implantable device to the tissue. 
     
     
       7. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein the implantable device further comprises an antenna for receiving the wireless signal. 
     
     
       8. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second mating features has a convex profile and one of the first and second mating features has a concave profile. 
     
     
       9. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes is arranged in-line with the body. 
     
     
       10. The implantation system of  claim 6 , wherein the anchoring feature is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the implantable device. 
     
     
       11. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein the round tip is smooth. 
     
     
       12. The implantation system of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly of the stylet and the implantable device is sized and shaped to be passed through a lumen of an introducer needle that is of gauge 18 or smaller and further through a percutaneous incision site on the patient. 
     
     
       13. The implantation system of  claim 12 , wherein the introducer needle comprises a tuohy needle. 
     
     
       14. The implantation system of  claim 12 , wherein the stylet is sufficiently rigid such that the assembly of the stylet and the implantable device can be passed through the lumen of the introducer needle and further through the percutaneous incision site on the patient. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 inserting an introducer needle through a percutaneous incision site on a patient; 
 coupling a first mating feature at a distal end of an elongate member of a stylet to a second mating feature of an implantable device that is configured to receive a wireless signal and to generate one or more electrical pulses from the wireless signal for exciting a tissue within the patient, wherein the implantable device further comprises:
 a body defining a longitudinal axis of the implantable device, 
 a plurality of electrodes distributed along the body and configured to deliver the one or more electrical pulses, 
 a round tip coupled to the body and defining a distal end of the implantable device such that no portion of the implantable device extends beyond the round tip, and 
 wherein the second mating feature is disposed in-line with the longitudinal axis of the implantable device, and defines a proximal end of the implantable device, 
 
 advancing the stylet and the implantable device together as an assembly to the tissue within the patient through a lumen of the introducer needle; and 
 applying the one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes of the implantable device to modulate the tissue within the patient. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the stylet comprises a placement stylet. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the stylet comprises a suction stylet. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising activating the suction stylet by pulling a plunger in the suction stylet to create a negative pressure in an air chamber of the suction stylet to mate the suction stylet with the implantable device. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  further comprising withdrawing the assembly of the implantable device and the stylet from the tissue. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein one of the first and second mating features has a convex profile and one of the first and second mating features has a concave profile. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue within the patient comprises neurological tissue.